Thursday, February 7, 2013

Crossover Rewards with SPG and Delta

It's official, the 'rumour' going around the last few days about Starwood Preferred Guest and Delta partnering beyond your standard earn miles for hotel stays is true. The introduction of Crossover Rewards was made today confirming that elite members in the Starwood Preferred Guest program and Delta SkyMiles Medallion (elite) members will have benefits extended to them from the reciprocal program. In a nut shell Starwood Elites can expect greater benefits when flying Delta and Medallion members will enjoy more benefits when staying a Starwood hotels. As I mentioned yesterday, I had asked the question years ago about earning Hotel points for flights and now it is here, although it isn't open to all SPG members it could just be a starting point as I am sure we will see the Crossover Rewards programs evolve over time as SPG and Delta figure out what works and doesn't work.

SPG Platinum and Gold members earn 1 Starpoint for every dollar spent on eligible Delta flights. Plus, SPG Platinum members enjoy elite benefits when traveling with Delta, such as priority check-in, Priority Boarding and first checked bag free.

SkyMiles Diamond, Platinum, Gold and Silver Medallion® members earn 1 mile for every dollar spent on eligible room rates at over 1,100 Starwood hotels and resorts globally. Plus, SkyMiles Diamond and Platinum Medallion members receive additional SPG benefits
at Starwood hotels and resorts — 4 p.m. late checkout, access to the
SPG elite check-in line, complimentary in-room Internet access and an
upgrade to an enhanced room at check-in, when available.

Starting March 1, 2013, if you are an active SPG® Member and have an active Delta SkyMiles®
program account, you may register to participate in Crossover Rewards
through spg.com/crossoverrewards or delta.com/crossoverrewards. Phone
registrations will not be accepted.

Rather than typing everything out myself, here is the earning structure and elite benefits being awarded to members straight from the Terms and Conditions of the Crossover Rewards program:

2. EARNING DELTA MILES.

2.1 Hotel Stays. Except for a Delta ADD Participant to
whom the obligations in Section 2.2 apply, a Crossover Rewards
Participant who has Medallion status in the Delta SkyMiles program will
earn one mile in the Delta SkyMiles program for every one US dollar or
its foreign equivalent denomination spent on Eligible Rates during
Eligible Stays at SPG Participating Hotels in addition to earning
Starpoints in accordance with the SPG Program Terms.

2.2 Delta ADD Participants. A Crossover Rewards
Participant who has Medallion status in the Delta SkyMiles program and
is enrolled in the SPG Airline Direct Deposit (ADD) program with Delta
will earn one Starpoint for every one US dollar or its foreign
equivalent denomination spent on Eligible Rates during Eligible Stays at
SPG Participating Hotels in addition to earning miles in the Delta
SkyMiles program pursuant to the ADD Program.

2.3 General SkyMiles Members. A Delta SkyMiles Member
who does not have Medallion status in the Delta SkyMiles program will
not earn miles in the Delta SkyMiles program through Crossover Rewards
for Eligible Stays at SPG Participating Hotels.

2.4 Other Hotel Charges. No miles in the Delta SkyMiles
program will be earned by a Crossover Rewards Participant for Eligible
Charges at SPG Participating Hotels (e.g., food and beverage charges,
laundry, valet) incurred by a Crossover Rewards Participant during an
Eligible Stay, other than on the Eligible Rate.

3. EARNING STARPOINTS.

3.1 Qualifying Delta Flight. A "Qualifying Delta Flight"
is a ticket with flight legs that are both marketed by Delta and
operated by Delta or a Delta Connection® carrier and that is eligible to
earn miles in the Delta SkyMiles program under the Delta SkyMiles Rules & Conditions,
except for flights that are booked through online travel agencies
including, without limitation, expedia.com, hotwire.com, priceline.com,
orbitz.com, Cheaptickets.com, travelocity.com and each of their
subsidiaries. A flight operated by a Delta codeshare partner is not a
Qualifying Delta Flight.

3.2 Delta Flights. A Crossover Rewards Participant who
is a Gold Preferred Guest or a Platinum Preferred Guest in the SPG
Program will earn Starpoints in addition to earning miles in the Delta
SkyMiles program in accordance with the Delta SkyMiles Rules & Conditions as follows:

3.2.a. One Starpoint for every one US dollar or its foreign equivalent
denomination spent on published and corporate fares (excluding taxes,
fees and surcharges) for Delta tickets on Qualifying Delta Flights;

3.2.b. 500 Starpoints per eligible leg on Qualifying Delta Flights: (1)
for special fares, often referred to as unpublished fares, including,
but not limited to consolidator fares, tour, groups, merchant marine and
cruise packages; or (2) for fares where the rate for the flight is
unknown; or

3.2.c. Either the amount specified in 3.2.a or 3.2.b for Corporate
Sales, Military or Government fares, dependent on the organization's
contract with Delta.

All legs of a Crossover Rewards Participant's reservation must be on
Qualifying Delta Flights to be eligible for Starpoints under this
Section 3.2.

4. ELITE BENEFITS.

4.1 SPG Participating Hotels.

4.1.a. Eligible Stays. A Crossover Rewards Participant who has
Diamond or Platinum Medallion status in the Delta SkyMiles program will
receive the following elite benefits during Eligible Stays at an SPG
Participating Hotels:

i. The ability to use the elite check-in line that is used by Gold
Preferred Members and Platinum Preferred Members in the SPG Program;

iii. An enhanced room at check-in, subject to availability and the
same restrictions that apply to Gold Preferred Members in the SPG
Program under the SPG Program Terms; and

iv. Complimentary guest room Internet access.

4.1.b. Restrictions. All services, amenities and benefits
provided under Section 4.1.a, are subject to availability and subject to
the terms and conditions of each SPG Participating Hotel. Not all
services, amenities and benefits are offered at all SPG Participating
Hotels.

4.1.c. No Incremental Benefits. A Crossover Rewards Participant
who qualifies for elite benefits pursuant to Section 4.1.a and who is a
Gold Preferred Member or Platinum Preferred Member in the SPG Program
will not receive incremental benefits under this Section 4.1, provided
that a Gold Preferred Guest may choose a welcome amenity other than complimentary guest room Internet access during an Eligible Stay.

4.2 Qualifying Delta Flights.

4.2.a. Qualifying Delta Flights. A Crossover Rewards Participant
who is a Platinum Preferred Member in the SPG Program will receive the
following elite benefits with Qualifying Delta Flights if the
reservation includes the Crossover Rewards Participant's SkyMiles
account number:

i. Priority check-in at designated Silver Medallion and SkyTeam
elite check-in lanes where Delta offers this service (currently,
Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Los Angeles, Memphis, Minneapolis, New York
City - JFK, New York City - LGA, Salt Lake City, Tokyo-Narita) or at
designated Sky Priority check-in lanes at all other airports;

ii. Zone 1 priority boarding on Qualifying Delta Flights for the
Crossover Rewards Participant and up to 8 additional passengers
travelling under the same reservation as the Crossover Rewards
Participant on. Priority boarding in not offered on Delta Shuttle
flights; and

iii. First checked bag free for the Crossover Rewards Participant
and up to 3 additional passengers travelling under the same reservation
as the Crossover Rewards Participant. This waiver is only for standard
first checked bag fee, if any fee applies, for a bag that is not
overweight and not oversize under Delta's applicable rules in Delta's
contract of carriage. Additional checked bags will be subject to the
applicable baggage fees as outlined by Delta's rules and the purchased
fare set forth in Delta's contract of carriage. The first checked bag
fee waiver will only be applied on flight segments which originate on a
Delta or Delta Connection® carrier when you check-in with Delta for both
a Delta marketed and Delta operated flight. Please refer to www.delta.com/baggage for more details.

All legs of a Crossover Rewards Participant's reservation must be on
Qualifying Delta Flights to be eligible for elite benefits under this
Section 4.2.a.

4.2.b. No Incremental Benefits. A Crossover Rewards Participant
who qualifies for elite benefits pursuant to Section 4.2.a and who has
Medallion status in the Delta SkyMiles program or is a Delta SkyMiles
American Express Cardholder will not receive incremental benefits under
this Section 4.2.

What do you think of this new initiative from SPG and Delta? Will you make use of it? I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts! Please do so by commenting below